Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Caterpillar 3406E, most frequently naming the engine, other / unspecified and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 5 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 2 months of data.
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
CRANKSHAFT FAILURES
THE PE WAS OPENED BASED ON REPORTS OF FAILING CRANKSHAFTS ON HEAVY TRUCK ENGINESS AND A RELATED SERVICE LETTER (PS50663) ISSUED BY CATERPILLAR.THE SERVICE LETTER MAKES AVAILABLE A PHASED-IN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR A REPLACEMENT CRANKSHAFT, BASED ON MILEAGE.ODI IS CONCERNED THAT A FAILED CRANKSHAFT MAYRESULT IN A DISABLED (STALLED) 80,000 POUND VEHICLE.ODI ALSO HAS CONCERNS ABOUT VEHICLE CONTROL, GIVEN THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY BE DISABLED, IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE SHUT DOWN.DURING THE PE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT AT LEAST SOME OF THE ENGINES MAY CONTINUE TO OPERATE, BUT WITH DRAMATICALLY REDUCED POWER AND POSSIBLE ADVERSE AFFECTS ON VEHICLE (STEERING) CONTROL.ODI IS CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE'S HIGH FAILURE RATE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE WITH TIME IN SERVICE.ODI IS AWARE THAT MANY OF THE ENGINES ARE REACHING THE POINT OF BEING OVERHAULED, HOWEVER, IT IS UNKNOWN WHAT AFFECT THIS WILL HAVE ON IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL FUTURE CRANKSHAFT FAILURES.CATERPILLAR HAS DETERMINED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE CRANKSHAFT FAILURES TO BE GRINDER BURN,WHICHRESULTS IN A CRACK AT THE # 1 OR # 6 CONNECTING ROD FILLET. THIS CRACK IS NOT VISIBLE DURING A VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE CRANKSHAFT.IN SUMMARY, A HEAVY VEHICLE WITH LIMITED OR NO MOBILITY AND POSSIBLY COMPROMISED STEERING CONTROL IS OF CONCERN TO ODI AND MORE SO IF HAZERDOUS MATERIALS ARE BEING TRANSPORTED.THEREFORE, ODI HAS UPGRADED THIS INVESTIGATION TO GAIN A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF THE SAFETY IMPACT ON VEHICLE OPERATION. ODI WILL BE CONTACTING FLEETS AND VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS DURING THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
FAULTY EQUIPMENT. *AK
THE CRANKSHAFT BROKE WHEN SLOWING FOR A SCALE HOUSE, LEAVING THE TRUCK DISABLED. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO A SHOP. THE CLUCH AND TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT
The new 571-9902 Cylinder Head Gasket kit has funnel seals that divert oil from the cylinder head back into the oil drain passage in the block. This oil diversion prevents oil from collecting between the cylinder block and the spacer plate gasket (shim gasket).
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT
Reman has detected higher than expected warranty issues related to valve failures on C15/C18 cylinder heads. The goal of this project is to investigate and improve valve-related issues.
ENGINE; EQUIPMENT; POWER TRAIN
Reman has detected higher than expected cam bearing failures on C15/C18 cam bearings through warranty analysis. The goal of this project is to investigate and mitigate these failures.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING; EQUIPMENT
Through warranty analysis, Reman has detected a higher than expected failure rate on C15/C18 heads through head cracking. The goal of this project is to evaluate and address the root causes of head cracking.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL; EQUIPMENT
CATERPILLAR: INFORMATION PROVIDED REGARDING THE CRITERIA OF REPLACING THE CAMSHAFT IN 3406E, C15, C-15 AND C-16 ENGINES. *PE
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999Viewing | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.